Semoball

Portageville stops Malden at 1 yard line in regulation and OT for comeback win

Portageville's Jamarion Smith (16) runs for a first down while being chased by Malden's Deangelo Austin on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Malden, Mo.
DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Scott Borkgren

MALDEN — After a wild finish that included a game-tying safety and a potential walk-off pick 6 come up a yard short, Portageville beat Malden 30-24 in overtime and will likely get a home game in the district playoffs.

Tied in the district standings entering the game, the Bulldogs (4-3) are likely to hang onto the fourth seed over Malden (3-4) with two weeks left in the regular season.

Down by two with 4 minutes left in the game, Portageville took more than 2 minutes to get to the Malden 30, converting two fourth downs along the way. With 90 seconds left, quarterback Mason Adams tried for a deep throw to the endzone, but Kene Davis came up with the interception and touchback.

Malden’s offense was moved 10 yards back by a holding call, then 5 yards back by another penalty.

The Bulldogs blew through the offensive line and tackled the handoff to Davis in the endzone for a game-tying safety with 1:15 on the clock.

Malden, kicking from its own 20, squibbed a kick 20 yards.

On second down, the Bulldogs pulled off a hook-and-ladder, with Alex Winsor pitching to Trey Benthel.

A personal foul after a short run by Jamarion Smith moved Portageville back to the 30 with 24 seconds left.

Adams rolled left, looked deep to Benthel but was sacked before getting the ball away, and Portageville called a timeout facing third-and-30 with 18 seconds left.

On fourth-and-19 from the 25, Adams rolled right and was hit hard as he threw, and Quamareous Farmer grabbed the interception near the goalline.

Farmer started running the other way and picked up a caravan as time expired. The Green Wave sideline and stands erupted as Farmer raced for a wild, game-winning touchdown.

Only … Adams never gave up on the play and was able to chase Farmer down and tackle him at the 1-yard line to force overtime.

Portageville got the ball first, and Smith took three straight direct snaps into the endzone for a score.

Malden put the ball in Davis’ hands, and he got them to the 4-yard-line, but a false start made it second-and-9.

Malden dialed up a reverse to Deangelo Austin, but Adams was able to make the tackle for a one-yard gain.

After an incomplete pass, Farmer scrambled up the middle, bounced outside, and again, Adams tackled him at the 1 to end the game.

Adams also finished with 235 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Farmer, who took over for Rylan Bell in the second quarter after Bell was injured, was 14 for 25 for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He also had seven carries for 52 yards and two touchdowns.

Winsor had two interceptions and eight catches for 92 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs, while Malden had five interceptions by five different players.

Malden finished with 262 yards of total offense after going into halftime with minus-6 yards.

Davis had nine carries for 23 yards and five catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

In one play in the second quarter, the emotions from Malden’s crowd sideline went from joy, to confusion, to frustration, to concern.

Midway through the second quarter, Bell hit Davis on a middle screen. Davis got loose, bounced outside and raced 19 yards for what he thought was a touchdown with Malden trailing 8-0.

Except it was ruled that Adams stripped Davis short of the goalline.

Josh Adams scooped up the football and started running the other way. Bell tracked back near midfield and was the only person in a position to make a tackle. He bent down and delivered a big hit near the Portageville bench.

Bell suffered a lower leg injury on the play and was eventually carried off the field by teammates and the team trainer. After being tended to on the sidelines, he soon left the stadium.

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